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Over 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and other international athletes have signed a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid rising international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has passed five years in detention, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to inspire faith, unity, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these values and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

History of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The letter said that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted the country's past of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the first all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the former skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and organizations.

Appeal to United Nations

The call to stop the athlete's execution is subsequent to a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for rights, endorsed by over a hundred rights specialists and entities, calling for action to avert the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to reports, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand executions, representing the highest number since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have used the executions to suppress dissent, instil apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their hold on authority.